Corsair Graphite 230T Review

Up Close:  Interior Overview

The interior of the case looks stunning with the black areas being counterpointed by a continuing orange theme.  A substantial CPU cut out should make changing coolers a piece of piddle while three good sized, although un grommeted, management holes will enable cables to be well routed.  Corsair have even added a wide aperture up near the roof for the 8pin CPU power cable to come though and for fan cables to exit.  

    

 

The tool-free fittings on the 5.25″ bays are among some of the most simplistic we’ve ever seen being to all intents and purposes a bit of sprung steel with a location pin on the sprung end.  Don’t think this a criticism, they are clearly inexpensive but do the job just as well as any of the esoteric clamp and buckle mechanisms that are out there.

     

 

If you thought the 5.25″ bays were simple you’re going to love the 3.5″ bays.  There’s four in total, but no trays, no runners to screw to the hard drives, just slide them in and they lock in place.  To remove just release the little lever at the side and pull.  Corsair haven’t forgotten the 2.5″ drive either, as sitting atop the 3.5″ rack is a plastic assembly capable of holding 4 of the little blighters.

     

 

The PSU is supported by two long runners, with no form of padding to be seen.  It’s very unusual, even in a budget case for there not to be any form of foam or rubber padding to support the PSU and aid in reducing vibration and sound transmission.  A bit of a strange choice for Corsair, we’ll have to see if it impacts on the sonic performance of the case.  Above the PSU cut out seven PCI slots are protected by vented blanks, with a mesh panel to the left to further aid heat dissipation.  Above this we find a black non LED 120mm fan and the rear I/O area.

       

 

As we saw when we looked at the exterior, the roof of the case is predominantly circular mesh.  Although no fans are included in this position, location holes resplendent with rubber isolation grommets are present to enable a pair of either 120mm or 140mm fans to be mounted.  Strange Corsair should go the to trouble of putting in eight grommets up here but chose not to put anything under the PSU.